PHOENIX — Brandon Woodruff, the right-handed pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, is set to face hitters for the first time in over a year as he progresses in his recovery from a shoulder injury.
On Friday, Woodruff will participate in live batting practice, marking a significant milestone in the return of the two-time All-Star who missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing surgery.
At 32 years old, Woodruff has not faced a batter since September 23, 2023, when he gave up four runs over five innings in a narrow 5-4 defeat to the Miami Marlins. Right before the Brewers’ participation in the 2023 NL Wild Card Series against Arizona, it was confirmed that he would not be able to pitch, leading to his surgery in October.
This spring, Woodruff is expected to be a full participant in training activities, although his readiness for the start of the regular season on March 27 remains uncertain.
However, this uncertainty is more a precautionary measure rather than a cause for concern regarding any lingering effects from the surgery or setbacks during rehabilitation.
“I’m healthy,” Woodruff stated on Wednesday. “I’m coming into camp healthy. I feel good. I just have to take different steps than everybody else. I haven’t had a setback. I’m not hurt. I’m just in a different spot. I’ve had surgery, but I’m coming into spring healthy, so I just have to take it slower than everybody else because I haven’t pitched in a year and a half.”
During his live batting practice session on Friday, Woodruff is expected to throw around 20 pitches. He will gauge how his arm feels in the couple of days following the outing.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy expressed optimism for Woodruff’s progress, stating, “I think he’s in a good spot. He just wants to face hitters.”
In contrast, left-handed pitcher DL Hall will be facing delays in starting his spring training program. Murphy revealed that Hall suffered a lat strain before the camp began, requiring him to be sidelined for at least the first two weeks.
This injury is likely to exclude Hall from consideration for the opening day rotation. Previously, he was a strong candidate for the fifth spot behind established pitchers Freddy Peralta, Nestor Cortes, Tobias Myers, and Aaron Civale, until Woodruff is fully fit for action. Murphy announced on Wednesday that Peralta is slated to start the season opener on March 27 at Yankee Stadium.
Meanwhile, left-hander Aaron Ashby, who also missed considerable time last season due to a shoulder injury, will have the opportunity to secure the final spot in the rotation. The Brewers also bolstered their roster on Wednesday by signing veteran left-hander Tyler Alexander to a one-year deal, adding another option to the mix.
